Writes to MHA for extension
SRINAGAR: A high-level committee has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to seek extension for submitting its report on distribution of assets and liabilities of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir between Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, sources disclosed.
The committee headed by former defence secretary Sanjay Mitra was supposed to submit the report by March 08. “Under the Jammu & Kashmir Re-organisation Act, the committee had to complete its task within six months. Since it was constituted on September 9 last year, it had to submit its report by March 08, 2020,” they disclosed to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that panel could not complete its mandate within stipulated time-frame.
According to sources, the MHA is yet to give extension to the panel. “The MHA is examining what legal changes are to be effected for extending term of the committee ,” they said.
As already reported by Kashmir News Observer, the panel has submitted its interim recommendations on distribution of assets and liabilities to MHA.
On September 09, the Centre constituted a three-member committee to look into distribution of assets and liabilities of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.
According to Jammu & Kashmir Re-organisation Act,the apportionment of the assets and liabilities of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir shall be subject to the recommendations of the committee
Under Section 85 of the Act, the central government, by an order, can establish one or more advisory committees for apportionment of assets, rights and liabilities of the companies and corporations constituted for the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir between the two Union territories.
It is worthwhile to mention here that MHA recently divided J&K House, Chanakyapuri between J&K and Ladakh UTs.